American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur 1880-1964

Virtually all Americans above a certain age hold strong opinions about Douglas MacArthur. They either worship him or despise him. Now, in this superb book, one of our most outstanding writers, after a meticulous three-year examination of the record, presents his startling insights about the man. The narrative is gripping, because the general's life was fascinating. It is moving, because he was a man of vision. It ends, finally, in tragedy, because his character, though majestic, was tragically flawed.

George Marshall: A Biography

A major historical biography of George C. Marshall - the general who ran the U.S. campaign during the Second World War, the Secretary of State who oversaw the successful rebuilding of post-war Europe, and the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize - and the first to offer a complete picture of his life.

What other book might you compare George Marshall: A Biography to and why?

The Wise Men.

What about Johnny Heller’s performance did you like?

Mr. Heller's performance was excellent. It was as if General Marshall was critiquing his own life and accomplishments.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Stoic Tenacity in Tumultuous Times

Any additional comments?

General Marshall remains one of my heroes. Admirers of General Marshall should not be afraid to read this book. It will only confirm what you've probably known all along. He was an imperfect human being that rose to the occasion at critical points in history. And, he like Dwight Eisenhower, believed in General Fox Connors advice: "Always make a big deal about your job; never yourself.

Requiem for Battleship Yamato

Requiem for Battleship Yamato is Yoshida Mitsuru's story of his own experience as a junior naval officer aboard the fabled Japanese battleship as it set out on a last, desperate sortie in April 1945. Yoshida was on the bridge during Yamato's fatal encounter with American airplanes, and his eloquent, moving account of that battle makes a singular contribution to the literature of the Pacific war. The book has long been considered a classic in both Japan and the United States.

The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made

Six close friends shaped the role their country would play in the dangerous years following World War II. They were the original best and brightest, whose towering intellects, outsize personalities, and dramatic actions would bring order to the postwar chaos, and whose strong response to Soviet expansionism would leave a legacy that dominates American policy to this day. In April 1945, they converged to advise an untutored new president, Harry Truman.

Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell

Over the course of a lifetime of service to his country, Colin Powell became a national hero, a beacon of wise leadership, and, according to polls, "the most trusted man in America". From his humble origins as the son of Jamaican immigrants, to the highest levels of government in four administrations, he helped guide the nation through some of its most heart-wrenching hours.

Hard Choices

Hillary Rodham Clinton's inside account of the crises, choices, and challenges she faced during her four years as America's 67th Secretary of State, and how those experiences drive her view of the future. In the aftermath of her 2008 presidential run, she expected to return to representing New York in the United States Senate. To her surprise, her former rival for the Democratic Party nomination, newly elected President Barack Obama, asked her to serve in his administration as Secretary of State. This memoir is the story of the four extraordinary and historic years that followed.

This book confirmed what I suspected about Secretary Clinton: Very Smart, Very Articulate, Very Capable, but never quite able to rise above her own self-interest. I think everyone should read this book to learn about Secretary Clinton’s time in office, and to contrast her account of the events that took place with the historical record. Whether you plan to vote for or against Secretary Clinton for President, this book is a must.

Donovan: America’s Master Spy

The fascinating biography of the man who laid the foundation for the CIA. One of the most celebrated and highly decorated heroes of World War I, a noted trial lawyer, presidential adviser and emissary, and chief of America’s Office of Strategic Services during World War II, William J. Donovan was a legendary figure. Donovan, originally published in 1982, penetrates the cloak of secrecy surrounding this remarkable man. The result is the definitive biography that Donovan himself had always expected Dunlop would write.

This was an excellent biography of Bill Donovan. Eric Martin's narration was splendid. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel like I have a much better understanding of Bill Donovan’s role the creation of our intelligence service.

George F. Kennan: An American Life

Drawing on extensive interviews with George Kennan and exclusive access to his archives, an eminent scholar of the Cold War delivers a revelatory biography of its troubled mastermind. This is a landmark work of history and biography that reveals the vast influence and rich inner landscape of a life that both mirrored and shaped the century it spanned.

I had known nothing about George Kennan before I read this book. I feel much more informed of Mr. Kennan the person, diplomat, policy adviser and teacher. George Kennan by John Lewis Gaddis is a very well written book that all should read for knowledge, and because it is relevant to the challenges we are facing today with the Russian relationship. I hope that some folks at State and the White House are dusting off copies of the Long Telegram, the Foreign Policy article by X, and the report by Task Force A of the Solarium project.

Going Home to Glory: A Memoir of Life with Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961-1969

After President Dwight D. Eisenhower left office in 1961, he retired to a farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Living next door was his teenage grandson, David; they would be neighbors for the rest of the decade. Based on personal stories, letters, diaries, and the reminiscences of Eisenhower’s closest friends, Going Home to Glory is both an intimate chronicle of the elder statesman’s final years and a coming of age story.

For the reader that is new to Dwight Eisenhower, I suggest reading Going Home to Glory before reading any other Dwight Eisenhower biographies or memoirs. The knowledge learned from this book will make other biographies, and Dwight Eisenhower’s own memoirs, richer. In addition to providing insight to Dwight Eisenhower the person, Going Home to Glory is a well written account of the poignant relationship between grandfather and grandson.

All In: The Education of General David Petraeus

General David Petraeus is the most transformative leader the American military has seen since the generation of Marshall. In All In, military expert Paul Broadwell examines Petraeus's career, his intellectual development as a military officer, and his impact on the U.S. military.

Berlin 1961: Kennedy, Khrushchev, and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth

A former Wall Street Journal editor and the current president and CEO of the Atlantic Council, Frederick Kempe draws on recently released documents and personal interviews to re-create the powder keg that was 1961 Berlin. In Cold War Berlin, the United States and the Soviet Union stand nose to nose, with the possibility of nuclear war just one misstep away.

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